Thermostatic circuit-controller.



H. F. RICE.

THERMOSTATIG CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1908.

924,499, Patented June 8, 1909.

HARVEY F. RICE, ESPY, PENNSYLVANIA.

THERMOB'I'ATIG CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed July 25, 1000. Serial No. 445,827.

Es y, in the county of Columbia and State expensive construction and so deslgned as to of ennsylvania, have invented new and useful 1m rovements in Thermostatic Circuit- Contro ers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an alarm a paratus intended to be installed in resi ences,

buildings of various characters, vessels or the like, for protection against fire or other danger conditions, and relates more particularly to an alarm system of that type m which the danger-responsive devices of the rooms, compartments or areas to be protected are arranged singly or in grou s inindependent normall -closed circuits t at contam automatic evices for closing a signal circuit whenever a danger responsive device is brought into action, the system being so installed as to be proof against tam ring with by burglars or other rsons witl'l intention to set fire to thebuildihg.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide an electric fire alarm system with danger-responsive devices such as thermostats adapted to maintain closed circuits.

when no danger condition exists, and is ada tedto open the circuits under danger con itions to bring into service signal devices, the thermostat being of simple and inprevent access to the circuit connections after the thermostat is installed.

A further object is the employment of a thermostatically otazrated circurt opening device adapted to installed in the room, com ilartment or area to be protected, and whic maintains a closed circuit in which is included a relay that controls a signal circuit, the said device being automatically opened by an abnormal increase in temperature due to fire or otherdangerous conditions.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the'various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described here-- mafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the mvention, Figure 1, is a bottom plan view of one of the thermostatically-operated circuit controllers or openers. Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively,

a central vertical section and a plan view thereof.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The residence, factory, warehouse, office or other building or vessel equipped with the improved alarm systemhas at some suitable pomt a switchboard that contains the visual or audible signals, or both, there being as many signals as there are rooms, compartments or areas to be protected, so that each signal indicates the condition of a predetermined place where a danger responsive device is located.

The danger-responsive device, in the present illustration, consists of a thermostatically-operated circuit controller shown in the figures. This device comprises a casing of porcelain or other insulating material that is molded with a chamber 26 which receivesthe lead-in wires, the casing or insulating base being formed with apertured cars 27 for receiving screws or other fastenin for attaching the device to the es he walls of the casingare provided wit slots of re ceases 28 through which the lead-in wires 29, 30, extend, the wires being thoroughly concealed and protected so that the wires cannot be cut by an one intending to set fire to the building. he bottom of the chamber 26 is formed with recesses 31 into which are set nuts 32 of the screw bolts 33 that secure the metal expansible disk or diaphragm 34 to the insulating base. The bottom of the base is provided with a de nding rim 35 within which is confined t e disk 34, the latter having its central portion dished outwardly so as to e and further outwardly when subjected td heat. The base 25 is formed with a central opening 36 for receiving therelatively-stationary contact device 37 which has its lower end pointed and disposed normally in contact with the centerof the disk 34.

vThe contact device, as shown in Fi 3, consists of a screw 38 threaded in a bus 39 disposed in the opening 36 of the base 25 and held in place by a flange 40 and nut 41 set into recesses 42, 43 on the bottom sides of the base. One lead-in wire is clam ed to this contact device by the nut 41, while the other lead-in wire is electrically connected I c'I I the circuit, and, by varying the adjustment of the screw, the degree of temperature at which the circuit will be opened can be regulated. For instance, when it is desired to set the device tp open at relatively low temperature, the set of the screw will be such that it will bear against the disk 34 with a comparatively light pressure, Whereas when the active temperature is to be higher, the" From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the advantages of the construction and of the method of o eration will be readily apparent to those skil ed in the art to which the Invention appertains,and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood thatthe apparatus shown 1s merely illustrative, and

that such changes may be made when desired as are wlthin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is I 1. The combination of a chambered insulating base having slots in the wall thereof and having spaced apertures in the bottom adjacent the said wall and. also having a central opening, a metal disk having apertures registering with those in the base and formed with its central wardly away from the ase, bolts passing through the apertures of the base and disk, a contact point in the said opening and arortion dished out-- ranged normally in contact with the inner surface of the disk, a bushing fitted in the o ening and in which the contact point is tl ireaded for adjustment therein, means for connecting a conductor with the said bushing, and conductors extending into the base through the slots thereof and connected one with one of the said bolts and the other with the said bushing.

2. In a thermostatically-actuated circuit controller, the combination of an insulating base having a chamber in its top and apertured ears for receiving fastemng devlces, the bottom of the chamber having an opening, a disk secured to the under side of the base and disposed over the opening, an internallythreaded bushing secured in the opening and 'forming a binding post, means for securing a wire to the bushing, means within the said chamber for electrically connecting a wire with the disk, the wires extending into the chamber through slots, and contact element adjustably mounted in the bushing and 1-3:

normally bearing on'the disk. In testimony whereof- I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY F. RICE.

Witnesses:

F. M. BURNS, FRANK B. OFF. 

